. >>> back here at home, issue number one is reaching a deal on that fiscal cliff. just 31 days left until we hit those $7 trillion in automatic spending cuts and tax increases, if negotiations break down. both sides of the aisle are going straight to the public in order to plead their case or tell us why the other side is to blame. this is president obama a in his weekly radio address. >> both parties say we should keep middle class taxes low. the senate has already passed a bill to keep income taxes from going up on middle class families. democrats in the house are ready to do the same thing. if we can just get a few house republicans on board, i'll sign this bill as soon as congress send it my way. but, it's unacceptable for some republicans in congress to hold middle class tax cuts hostage simply because they refuse to let tax rates go up on the wealthiest americans. >> in the republican response, senator orrin hatch takes that hostage metaphor one step further and brings to mind a memorable movie scene. >> unfortunately, some on the other side of the aisle are